Variety (April 1921)

Friday, April 15, 1921 SHOW REVIEWS 19 JOLLY JOHNNIE JONES. Bounding Wire* 10 Mint.; Ons (8pscisl Drop), Close Full. Riverside. Jolly Johnny Jonea has a woman assistant who works in malo at- tire. The couple open In "one " dp- ing a little comedy pantomime with comedy prop*. Its only advantage id that it gives the act a little time before going into full stage, which to an opening act—and this in its present shape can hope for no other position—mean* something; as it gives the audience a little time to get settled. In full stage the man does the usual routine on the bounding wire. The tricks are well done and one or two gained applause. In a big show where the money has to be kept down the act will pass opening. FREDDY, SILVERS and FULLER. Song* end Talk. 13 Mins.; One. American. Three men. two straight, the third doing a burnt cork comic. The trio appears youthful. The strength Is In the singing, almost entirely aimed for trio har- mony, with some good results at- tained. The talk is old, and not old enough to have been forgotten. The gags change the song pace, with "Which would you save—your wife or your mother?" a sample. The boys started well with a parody on s'Comlng Through the Ry«\" and they rung the bell again with "Maggie." with some comedy business. An operatic bit that merged Into popular numbers took them to the entrance, and they earned a blue laws* number encore, the comic getting romething with yodeling. With the song numbers worked up well, as they are, the boys can stand something better In the talking rec- tlons. On second they went over strongly and could have been as- signed a later spot. Ibce. LEON PAULUS. Operatic. 13 Mint.; One. Orpheum, New Orleans. New Orleans, April 13. Leon Paulus was one of the fwincipals of the New Orleans French opera company the past season. His voice is a light bari- tone adapted to the singing of the less strenuous passages of the operas but minus the Are and sweep necessary for the bravura moments In vaudeville. He is employing three selections with the "Toreador" song from "Carmen" concluding. Had it been given with essential gusto, Mr. Paulus might have emerged partly triumphant but it gained but minor attention along with the preceding numbers. Mr. Paulus has personality, some magnetism and an engaging stage presence but is immature in the desires of vaudeville. Tricks are necessary to strike the mass which composes the major portion of the audiences. Minus these tricks the most silvered tones fall Into the despond of inattention. Bamueh ELIZABETH KENNEDY and MIL- TON BERLE. "Broadway Bound" (imitations). 17 Mine.; Full Stage (special set). Regent. ^ The program glvea Milton Hockey and Howard Green credit for writ- ing this piece. Why it took two men to write "you remember Ed- die Cantor in the Midnight Round- ers, well, I'll give .you an imitation of him," is hard to conceive. That is what the act consists of—imita- tions by two juveniles. For those who can remember ten years ago this act will bring back memories of Felix and Caire, al- though the former team had the advantage of being able to do sing- ing and dancing imitations, while this little couple are handicapped by the law which forbids them do- SELLS-FLOTO CIRCUS. Chicago, April 13. "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear." That seems, to go for bush-league circus owners. With half a dozen combined minor circuses, plus the famous Sells-Kioto layout, Ed. Ballard and Jerry Mug- givan failed to come through at the Coliseum or show anything new or pretentious In the circus line. The entire show ran sluggishly and dragged out until It died of Its own accord. The line-up, except for few exceptions, read liko a small time vaudeville bill: A bunch of opening acts with a few elephants, camels, dogs and horses as a back- ground. Of course this does not include such features as the famous "Poodles" Hanneford or the Hodgina family, but even these sterling per- formers were hurt by their environ- ments. The circus started with ing anything but talk. The imlta- j what was supposed to be a spectacle tions are probably just as good as | called "The Birth of the Rainbow." those done by Felix and Caire. All | and consisted of all the performers. Brothers, Maurice and Olrlie. Steln- er Brothers, the Honetts and Bal- main. Slap-stick bar comedy. DISPLAY NUMBER 18.—Trick riding in Indian costumes. DISTLAY NUMBER 19—The clowns on the Hippodrome track to kill time. DISPLAY NUMBER 20—The Nelson Family and the Flying Wards, casting. DISPLAY NUMBER 21 —Jockey riding and Roman races. Even thin failed to thrill. Two hours and thirty minutes. Opened at the Coliseum Saturday night, April 9. to capacity business dropped off 60 per cent, in attend ance with Sunday matinee. kid imitations seem to be about the same, tt is just a question of the cuteness of the kids. The girl in this combination is a little mite and It Is her use of up to date slang in a burlesque trav- esty of "Romeo and Juliet" which gets most for the act. The boy does a Cantor imitation and also works on the sams order through the running. A pretty blue hang- ing set is carried and the efforts of the children gained satisfactory re- sults here, as they probably will anywhere. Kid performers, expe- rience has shown, are as sure tire as anything In vaudeville. They also draw business, more so In the smaller towns. The folks like to go and see if there is anything they do that our Tillie or our Michael can't do. stake drivers, roustabouts and hostlers dressed up In medieval cos* tumes. They were of an ancient vintage and showed the wear :\nd tear of many parades. DISPLAY NUMBER 2.—Bucking mules with colored riders. DISPLAY NUMBER I.—The cU PALACE. Monday evening's capacity house saw a better entertainment than that which worked out at the mati- nee. At the initial performance three of the four comedy acta were bunched after intermission, while at night they were paired off before and after intermission. That geared the bill up to its best gait and it ran nicely to big scores. The name attraction and head- liner was Julian Eltinge. who has not been seen on Broadway for two FILLIS FAMILY. High School Horses. 11 Mins.; Full Stage. 68th St. Four horses, with a man and Woman doing the equestrian work In a high* school routine, that be- speaks excellent training. Three of the animals are adepts at dance steps, performing all of Me more difficult ones in perfect time with the music. One of the animals called "Little Mike" stands out as a fancy stepper. The other two do fox trot, waltz, one step. The tricks are run through with speed and minus surg- ing by the trainers. A rearing horse also contributed a bit of jumping that served to vary the routine. Horse acts have not been abundant around the local vaudeville houses for several years. This one is a b'sr timer. road- for the best as it LAMBERT and PHILLIPS. Piano. Songs. Comedy. 14 Mins.; One. 58th Street (April 7). Male monologue.*- followed by comedy piano playing. Hebrew dialect used in talk. Plays classical selection followed by finger exer- cises of a beginner with discords for comedy purposes. A comedy song, "There May Be a Change," is well delivered. Lambert steps upstage to make an announcement. Male partner interrupts, bawling him out for try- ing to make a single out of a two- act. The latter is Joe Phillips, from burlesque. Lambert introduces him in a comedy speech. Next a duet of burlesque opera, Phillips pulling laughs with a thin exaggerated falsetto voice. A bur- lesque ventriloquial bit similar to Felix Adler's, with Phlllipa ci the dummy seated upon Lambert's knee, for some crossfire and a song hit. A good standard small time two- man eomedy act. Con. "A LONE80ME GIRL" (11). Girl Act. 30 Mins.; One, Full (Special). American Roof. Three principals, two women and a juvenile, backed by eight girls phants, IS in all. Two of the rings!tad a ha,f years. The star female were in charge of women, while the I imi>ersonator gave up film work to other had a man cracking a whip. They have brought the elephants up to date by having them shimmy in- stead of doing the "cooch." DISPLAY NUMBER 4.—Aerial 'gymnastics with the Sweeney Duo. Mile. Lawson, the Kendricks. Sis- ters Bartlett, Marguerite Slats, the LePearls, Hamilton Sisters, Mile. White, Thomas Nelson, Grace Ham- ilton, Lou Grant. Rosco Goodwin, Sweeney Girls, Martin and Alley. This is the list that the program gave. In reality not half the an- nounced list appeared, and those who did show were doubling under various names. Mile. "White received the honor of the first announce- ment. Her feature trick was a giant swing, a complete revolution on high traps. DISPLAY NUMBER 5.—Contor- tionists, ground tumblers and hand balancers. Those listed were A. Ar- dlne, Madgle, Hormka Brothers, Mile. Delno and James Wallers. Madgie is really Nadjie, who recent- ly played the State-Lake. Hormka Brothers are the Kremka Brothers, another recruit from vaudeville, while James Walters is known as Schubert, "The Frog Man." Nadjie showed the class of the quint*-! of acts by walking away with the ap- plause honors. The clowns then had their inning on the track, hut showed nothing new. DISPLAY NUMBER 6. Triek riding by the Hanneford family which was split up taking cart' of ring number one and three. '"Daisy" Hodgina had the honor of the center ring. Dressed in evening gown, some difficult feats were done by "Miss" Hodgina. DISPLAY NUMBER 7.—Con- glomeration of wire walkers, no one knowing who was who and no one seeming to care. The billing was Marguerite and Hanley, Four Wards, Clest. Four Balmaines, Three Luckeys and Lou Grant. The only thing that stood out were four girls in the center ring. Checking vp it looked like the Four Bahnaine.^. DISPLAY NUMBER 8.—Once more the Clowns had their way and tortured the patrons lor fully live minutes. DISPLAY NUMBER 9.—Posing of stands Bell ANN SUTER. Character Songs. 12 Mins.; One. 58th Street (April 7). Single woman, who does four numbers, in appearance and de- livery sh«> reminds of Mae West without infringing. Her first num- ber is an old- fash lotted idea with a brief period of jazz in the delivery for contrast, both wefl handled. Next a flirtation Idea, followed b\ a popular French dialect song, a Change being made for each. The last iv .mother popular song deliv- ered fn eccentric manner with a comedy walk and dance that regis- tered strongly. Miss Bnter has im- proved considerably since last seen around and Is in line for big tlm" consideration. Co*. carry out the theme of the country > women, horses and dogs., A good girl following the city boy, having flash though dragged out." Between met in "one," to* his native health, situated In a dressmaking establish- ment set in full stage. The establishment gives the ex- cuse for the proverbial parade of the girls in "flash" costumes and who, in all, make three changes. A sextet of musical numbers are re- layed during the half hour the act consumes with the comedy taken care of by one of the feminine prin- cipals which, incidentally, sufficed for the purpose. It's an average girl act for the in- termediate houses that has nothing either above or below the average to recommend or condemn it. The girls look well enough and the lead- ing trio are of sufficient ability. GEORGE GIFFORD. Seng, Dance and Tall 13 Mins.; One. Greeley Square. (Jeorgo Clifford effects tortoise shell goggles, green bow tie and variegated street attire. Following a piece of business with the wandering calcium light, he goes into a hoke Egyptian dance which he spoils by essaying a few minutes of mouologing. His patter is none too strong and is further detracted by poor delivery. His de- livery smacks too strongly of mi-^ micking Senator !«Yancis Murph] and Milt Collins, being a cross be- twixt the two. He tops this off with h neat eccentric dance solo ti,;it earned him h weak recall for anollat corking hOOflng session. In tlii-; number he <iid some business w\\h ;i top h.it thai Impressed and sent him off to legitimate applause. r.y ellmlnatir.g Iht weak talk, Mr. r; iff old should make a spot on the dag -mall tint'. poses there was a flurry of high school horses. DISPLAY NUMBER 10—Clown band with a lot of hoakum went over for some laughs. DISPLAY NUMBER 11.—Aerial gymnastics by White and Ardine, Marguerite and Haney, Beatrice Sweeney, Maurice and Girlie, the Arleys and L. Grant. Beatrice Sweeney, holding stage number two, got an announcement that was in- coherent, taking away from the ef- fect of her big trick. DISPLAY NUMBER 12.—Joe Hodgina in ring number one, the Hobsons in ring number three, with •'Poodles" Hanneford and his fam- organlze his own road show, and that eventually reached the fur east and the antipodes. Since returning he has been gradually working his way here—the locale of his first stage successes. Mr. Eltinge was moved from closing intermission down to seventh. It amazed to hear the gasps of surprise when he doffed his wig and made his customary speech anent the tight fit of his corsets and shoe and, of course, the mention of bis Journey to the Orient. There was proof enough, that El- tinge is still new to a nth number of playgoers. He got better as he went along and he looked better, too. The gold lace and bejeweled frock for the finale Oriental number indicated his sure ability to design costumes. That outfit, too, showed him to be more plump than when seen here last. His voice may not be quite so strong, though it never was lusty, but all In all he is just as skilled a showman as ever. Reports are that he will again strike for the coast for pictures, but vaudeville claims will likely keep him occupied In the two-a-day for many moons to come. Spats were ably described by two of the comedy offerings. Julius Tannen, who passed up next to closing for the safe opening inter- mission spot, spoke «f them as "vests for shoes." Rubs Brown and Connie O'Donnell were of the opin- ion that spats hid broken shoe laces. Tannen chattered pleasantly, yet to no brilliant success. When he got through with his rhyme on how good America really Is the house was content to let It go at that. Brown and O'Donnell stepped Into the bill on a disappointment, Ruby Norton being out because of illness. The team was a hit in number four. There they lifted the show by de- vious ways of buffoonery that found much hiughing response. O'Don- nell's clowning got over all the way. Hjs dance, "Topics of the Day." scored, and the drama bit followed. A general laugh met the declaration that "little Joe" was the world's champion wrestler, for he couldn't be thrown. They were talking of "craps." The applause honors of the even- ing went to Joe Morris and Flo Campbell, who moved down next to closing. They worked minus the "avi-ate-her" drop, which was not needed. Joseph L. Browning Is credited with the routine. He has furnished some new bits that bright- ened the turn surprisingly. Morris' idea of stopping In the middle of a song and explaining It was a goal. He said he didn't like the number and he might as well tell what It was about: "If an apple tempted Adam, think what a peach would do to me." The horse-race betting chatter, too, provided new fun. He explained he had bet $15 on a horse that didn't win, but that for $5 more he could have bought the nag. A from the start. There was a duet number with Keene to the meloriv of the "Music Box," and alone on her toes she waa extremely dainty. The big number came with the millinery shop bit and Its dances for both. Miss Haig ia attempting more in lyrics than before. In having Mil- dred Brown at the piano novelty-i* Injected from the angle of accom}- panist. A Spanish duet took them off to an earned encore—a cute wed- ding bit. Like brother Joe. Bill Dooley has taken on a girl partner. She is Helen Story, little, sprightly and phasing. They worked together In the Fancho and Marco revue on the coast, and have been playing their way to Broadway. Dooley is twirl- ing the lariat and chattering, most- ly chattering, and he tells stories while making costume changes. That one about the speed with which the Wool worth building was put up beat him east by months. He is still doing the Granville imi- tation, announcing It as always. For a finale there was a Chinese duet. The turn has a lot of- stuff, running a bit overtime, with II minutes over all. Lucas and Inex provided a cork' Ing opening. The peachy figure of the black-thatched girl made the prettiest picture, posed at the cur- tain. The yellow body-clinging out- fits made the girl the more alluring. The routine of gymnastics Includes a series of poses in actual effect. The couple added a bit In one. earned with the big hand won. Perhaps the slide requesting pa- trons to remain in for the last act aided Mario Lo. Yet the pretty pic- tures of porcelains, quickly worked out. were the real magnet. This posing act Is always worth while. I her. COLONIAL. ily in the center. All eyes were cen- j coiucdy lyric sung from an upper tered on "Poodles," and with his j box kept the laugh speed. Miss grotesque antics he easily walked J Campbell looked very well in a crys- iway with all honors of the show. His performance alone was almost worth the price of admission, though never being able to live down what came before or after. DISPLAY NUMBER It.—Aerial teeth acts. The Luckeys, Hamilton flirls, tlie Wards, Minnie Fisher and eccentric tfte SWeertey Gifts. It looked ltk< a rehearsal. DISPLAY NUMBER 14—Captain Tiebor and his Seals. Strassel's Seals, and some dogs and ponies that Were ;it least entitled to some billing which they did not get. DISPLAY NUMBER 15.—The en- tire proceedings were stopped and ;i special announcement was made for tal frock, soloing nicely. During his Hccond number Morris "did a show in the aisle" and skipped to the stage for the skating finale bit which was encored. Closing intermission was another comedy high light, Harry Watson. Jr.,. and his company moving hack from the second section of the ufiow nnd spotted well In the good going left l»y Brown and O'Donnell. The telephone hit looks ai funny u* ever rind the box bit better. The "Bat- tling Kid Imgan" request to "tell •< m what I done to Philadelphia Jack O'Brien'* had some extra laughs to those who knew the for- ing with the Cevene troupe, and within the last two months playing (•mall time vaudeville. Reason <iui well, though there are hall a do'/o-n net* in vaudeville that could ."-how I: to up Disi'J. \V Nl'MBRR If. Th stages held wrestling Japs, ti"- T«i m.iki.i troupe and Owataga Ironpc, while the center rin« held tin Al- lien Hamad Arabs. lUSl'LAY NUMBER IT. S to me. Toll 'em what I done to him." A new laugh may have been inserted at the curtain. With I he Kid'' b< ing eountcd out ;t prop but terfly i* Hooted lxfon' "I>uganV map. Ijnm.t Haig. with tie agile liioh- ard VV. Keene, sported her new dance offering to a big number three Miss Haig Is becoming Known as the girl with !(•• wonder* fill h k Khe ii • t\< •" pr< tl \\s The show at the Colonial Tuesday night was more remarkable than the attendance. Besides there was plenty of show and not enough at- tendance. The orchestra at nigh? looked like a matinee crowd. But the bill had plenty of comedy. Now that spring is here, with managers yelling about the business, comes comedy oh the bills In plenty. Per- haps if it had been there, as it should have been, all season Instoad of the $2,500 reviews that were not. the managers would not now have to yell. The comedy was evenly distrib- uted because It couldn't be bunched. It was lively, too—much livelier than the audience. The house just would not thaw. When the Leigh - tons appeared No. 2 and sang their first blues, Frank said to Bert, as they were seated on the trunk: "Is the curtain up?" The house got that about half a minute afterward. It warmed them up, and the Leigh - tons got their reward for their un- usual harmony and blues slngin ; after it. The opening act, Evans and Perez, while a meritorious perch turn and a good opener, hold the stage too long for that position and work. They do a lot of things, mostly perch stuff, but should either cut something or some tricks out. so they can leave in the prescribed acrobatic time. The big laugh wallop came with the Bostock Hiding School turn. placed to close the first half, where its full value came out. The me- chanic riding of the plants brought screams, as the turn invariably does on its proper position. The straight bareback riding previously is at- tractive. The young woman who does some of it should develop into a crack rider. Just now she misses some on confidence, but can ride and well, with personality besides. One of the men of the turn, thouK'i might make the opening announce- ment. The young woman's -voice does not carry sufficiently to hold. After intermission came that vaudeville prodigy. Jack Osteruutn, a boy of around 20 with the bearing of a skilled vaudevlllian. Yatnh - vllle has never had a youth like Jack, with his ability to sing, to talk, while his magnetism. besid<- bis youth, is making friends for him all over the house. Hc'm an net vaudeville can bear down heavily upon as an attraction If he is ex- ploited in the right way and in Sri vance. for the boy makes good. Il< *s a novelty, because as a singing m«»- nologlst he ranks with others who needed long years to reach where Jack is at '20. He's all boy, besides, in hlg manners, looks and actions A** S performer young OsJertnar. seems to be a hear at putting over nop numbers. The way he handled "It's All Over Now" was superb, taking it straight and then ragging it. He gave it a style of his own in the singing that is something III itself, and he seems to hold th.it style as innate His talk has com- edy points and he puts them acre *, but ofttimes too fast; but Jack he d not worry - he's there if n« doesn't lose his head. The Colonial .>udl« ence thought so. too, going strongly to the youth at the finish. In n • - pin use he equaled Anything on the bill, coming bark with a little M»h about his parents, who sre a;-> hi i if show business (Jake Rosenthal rind Kathcryn Osterman). Nexl to closing were Etill) II Van nnd .i.i n: • .1 rorb.it v. ('I, the i .1 i j eke!" bit. a- turn J ft I"' a* \ jiuricviltv roulri .is!; fot Vac • ■ eul ed Mil i" a-<\ w hih- < *<>rl <•? I . : , fled th. m with lilj d I .